The total topped 2012, the previous record year, when $466.6 million was collected.

DeWine’s office in three years has collected more debts due the state than any previous
administration did in four years.

“Because these recovered funds directly reduce the strain on government budgets, a successful
collections operation is one of the most important ways we can protect Ohio taxpayers,” DeWine said
in a statement.

The attorney general is the state’s bill collector for government and universities. The
office hires special counsel to help with the collection work.

That is where David Pepper, DeWine’s Democratic challenger, has been hitting him with
accusations of corruption, rigged bids and contracts awarded to favored political donors.

Democrats responded to the debt-collection release by saying the DeWine camp is in “spin
mode."

“The amount his office has collected is an insufficient excuse for DeWine’s rigged bidding
process to benefit his campaign donors to personally benefit himself,” said Brian Hester,
Democratic deputy communications director. “If any other elected official awarded contracts in such
a corrupt manner, Mike DeWine would hold a press conference to announce he was bringing charges.”&
amp; lt; /p>

Pepper targeted one contract in particular: a 2012 contract awarded by DeWine’s office to

CELCO Ltd., a company in Hudson, Ohio, owned by DeWine supporter Pete Spitalieri. CELCO
received state work even though the company, at the time, had no direct experience in collections
and was formed just two days before DeWine’s office solicited qualifications for a contract.

DeWine’s office said campaign contributions do not factor into any decisions in awarding
contracts.